Madam Min's eyebrows furrowed in a knot, and she tutted her tongue, "Even Zhang Heizi's daughter, even if she bleached her face, wouldn't look good with Zhao Wu. He already has a fiancée, how can you force him? I've always said that Zhao Wu is such a good kid, how could he have those bad habits? It must be that bad Zhang Heizi spread the rumor."
Madam Min was furious. It was Zhang Heizi's business to mess with Zhao Wu, but he shouldn't have dragged her husband into it. Not only was her husband angry, but she was unhappy for a long time...
Xu Lanyin sat in a chair next to Madam Min's, and she overheard what she was saying. Captain Zhang had not only badmouthed Zhao Wu, but had also dragged the county magistrate into the matter...
Xu Lanyin suppressed her thoughts and smiled, "Miss Zhang is a very good person. She also can't stand her father's behavior. She also asked Zhao Wu to be careful not to fall into the trap of her father and two brothers..." Then she told him about Zhang Manniang's previous message to her and that she had gone to her house again yesterday.
After hearing what Zhang Manniang said, Madam Min and Min Nan both burst into laughter.
Madam Min said disdainfully, "That's just a fool. In her eyes, the pretty boy is more important than her own father."
Min Nan also laughed and said, "Miss Zhang has made many jokes..." and told a few more jokes about Zhang Manniang chasing after a pretty boy.
Madam Min frowned and scolded, "Girls, don't say such things."
Min Nan pouted and said, "That's right, I'm not talking nonsense."
Madam Min then said to Xu Lanyin, "I will talk to my master about the matter of Zhang Heizi and Zhao Wu. If Zhao Wu doesn't want to work in the police station, transfer him somewhere else. Didn't that kid go to school for a few years? Being a clerk is much more respectable than being a police officer."
Xu Lanyin thanked him and said, "Zhao Wushangwu likes being a police officer. If you really can't make it there, come and ask Madam Min for help..."
As they were talking, it was noon. Xu Lanyin stood up to say goodbye, and Mrs. Min did not want to keep her. Min Nan wanted to go back to her own courtyard, and the two of them left hand in hand.
After they left, the magistrate of Min County came back from the front hall to eat.
Madam Min whispered Xu Lanyin's words. She added, "Zhang Heizi is truly despicable. He slandered a child like that when the marriage failed. And the key point is, he even dragged the master into this. His words were so unpleasant to hear."
The Min County Magistrate remained silent. He had been so angry that he had already written to the Min households, explicitly rejecting the idea of Zhao Wu going to the Criminal Investigation Department, saying that Zhao Wu had some bad habits and he was afraid he would get into trouble, so he needed to continue training and polishing himself.
These things can only be buried deep in my heart.
That Zhang Heizi actually dared to use me. If I catch him by surprise in the future, I will definitely give him a good beating...
On the way back, Xu Lanyin kept thinking about what Madam Min was thinking. Captain Zhang said something about Zhao Wu and actually dragged the county magistrate into this, making the county magistrate and Madam Min so angry.
Zhao Wu, a minor yamen runner, had little contact with the almighty County Magistrate. The only time he spoke to him was when he reported Old Man Wang's murder. At the time, he had warned Zhao Wu to be careful with his tone and wording. Although Zhao Wu was a little stunned, he wasn't stupid and wouldn't offend the Min County Magistrate. So, Captain Zhang must have fabricated something, using this incident to badmouth Zhao Wu to the Min County Magistrate. Most likely, Zhao Wu believed that the case was reopened and overturned because of his reminder...
After figuring it out, Xu Lanyin realized that it was pointless to get angry. From ancient times to the present, such villains were everywhere, and she had encountered many in her previous life.
After Xu Lanyin and Xu Lanting had lunch at the Xu family shop, they went to the clinic to see a doctor and get some medicine, and then went to the Hong family.
On the way, five constables were seen moving among the crowd from afar, one of whom was Zhao Wu.
The other four constables were all shabby-looking, and their gait was unsteady, making Zhao Wu stand out from the crowd, handsome and tall. The four walked in front, chatting and laughing, while Zhao Wu followed alone, completely out of tune with them, completely unlike the happy and carefree days when he followed Constable He.
The two young ladies nearby pointed at the constables and whispered to each other. The purple-dressed girl said, "Look at that Constable Zhao. He's so handsome."
The girl in red said, "Such a talented person, why would he want to be a constable? It would be much better to be a clerk. If he wore a long gown and held a folding fan in his hand, he would definitely be as handsome as an ancient scholar."
The purple-dressed girl said stubbornly, "Even if he's a constable, even in this attire, he's still more handsome than Gu Juren, and the most handsome constable in the Daming Dynasty... Let me tell you, Zhang Sanniang and Li Yuanyuan wait at the street corner every day just to catch a glimpse of him. Li Yuanyuan loves to see his big dimples..."
The girl in red added, "Well, Mr. Zhao's dimples are indeed pretty. Why doesn't he like to smile? His dimples are even deeper and prettier when he smiles."
The purple-dressed girl shared the same sentiment and guessed, "Perhaps he didn't smile in order to appear more imposing."
"Well, very likely."
…
After listening to their conversation, Xu Lanting looked up and smiled at Xu Lanyin, meaning that these young ladies were so shameless that they couldn't talk about men like that.
Xu Lanyin nodded in agreement. Being too good-looking also caused trouble for a man. Not only did it cause young ladies to stand at the street corners and stare at him every day, it also caused others to bully him to death.
Just as they were about to turn into the alley, they saw a constable in his thirties standing in front of a shop. He turned around and said something to Zhao Wu. The man was tall and muscular, with not only long arms and legs like a club, but also a long, horse-like face. He must be the Constable Xu Zhao Wu had mentioned, nicknamed Xu Dabang.
Zhao Wu thought about it and seemed to shake his head in refusal.
Xu Dabang's face darkened, and he gestured to another constable, who then entered the shop. A moment later, the other constable emerged and shoved something into Xu Dabang's hand. Several constables walked forward, and Zhao Wu followed.
Xu Lanyin's heart ached. After being ostracized and isolated, she wondered what they would do next.
Xu Lanting also noticed that Brother Zhao was being marginalized. Sadly, he pulled Xu Lanyin's hand and said, "Sister, we have good relationships with the Min family and Brother Hong's family. Please ask them to help Brother Zhao find a new job. I know how it feels to be marginalized. It's not good."
Xu Lanyin shook her head and said, "He may not be willing to change."
If he didn't want to be a constable, he could go stand guard. If he didn't want to be any yamen runner, he could join the army. Xu Lanyin had both options. But she had a hunch that Zhao Wu would definitely not change.
The brother and sister played at Hong's house for half an hour before taking a donkey cart back to Xiaozao Village.
When Zhao Wu returned home that night, he was furious to learn that Captain Zhang was indeed behind the incident. Fortunately, he had explained the situation to Madam Min, and Madam Min would not blame him anymore.
Xu Lanyin still mentioned that Mrs. Min offered to help him change his job.
Xu Lanting also advised, "Brother Zhao, just go to the army. Brother Hong is very good, and I heard from my eldest brother that Commander Jiang is also very good. You won't be bullied there."
Qin also meant this.
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